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Sore or white tongue
A sore or white tongue is not usually serious and is often easily treated.
Things you can do yourself
Do
use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth
brush your tongue or use a scraper to help improve a white tongue
use a straw to drink cool drinks
take paracetamol or ibuprofen
Don’t
do not use a toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulphate
do not eat hard, spicy, salty, acidic or hot food and drink that may irritate your tongue
do not smoke
do not drink alcohol
You can ask a pharmacist about:
what's causing your sore or white tongue
if you can buy anything to help with any pain or irritation
if you should see a dentist or GP
Find a pharmacy
Non-urgent advice:
See a GP or dentist if you:
have pain or itchiness that does not go away or gets worse
have white patches on your tongue
Common causes of a sore or white tongue
Biting or burning your tongue with hot food or drink can cause pain and swelling. But this should only last a few days.
A white tongue can be a sign of a health condition.
Do not self-diagnose – see a GP if you're worried.
Lichen planus
White patches on the tongue and inside the cheek, with sore gums
Credit:
Read about lichen planus.
Leukoplakia
White, raised patches on the tongue, inside of the cheeks, or on the gums, that do not come off when you rub them
Credit:
Read about leukoplakia.
Geographic tongue
Blotchy, red patches on the tongue that have a white or light-coloured border
Credit:
Read about geographic tongue.
Mouth ulcer
Round, painful and swollen sores that look like blisters and can appear on the tongue, inside of the cheeks, or on the lips
Credit:
Read about mouth ulcers.
Oral thrush
Itchy, red mouth with white patches on the tongue
Credit:
Read about oral thrush.
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Page last reviewed: 02 June 2020
Next review due: 02 June 2023
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